This Sunday my son's "B League" team played against the Greensburg Black team. The Greensburg team blew away my son's team. That's no problem. We were way overmatched and I can deal with that. But something happened that really caught my attention.

At one point, the Greensburg team scored to make the score 39-6. They then attempted a running (1 point) extra point attempt. One of our kids busted through the line and made a great tackle to make the point attempt no good.

At which point, the Greensburg coach verbally berated the player who was supposed to block our D-lineman. "That is unacceptable! How did you let him through there! There is no way we should have anybody getting thought like that!!!"

At this point I had to look back at the scoreboard to be sure the score still was what I thought it was. Yep. Sure enough it was still 39-6 in favor of the team who is having a 7, 8, or maybe 9 year old boy thoroughly embarrassed in front of his friends and family because one of our players made one great play.

Let me repeat. This was a kid that had to be 7, 8 or 9 years old and his team was up 39-6 in the fourth quarter.Is ther a point where a minor issue in a game like that does NOT deserve a verbal bashing? It would seem to me that a 33 point lead with maybe enough time on the clock for one more posession would be one of those times.

I understand Greensburg has a good football tradition. But I think that tradition can be set aside in favor of the mental well-being of a 7-9 year old child. Don't you? At the high school level, I get it. Middle school, I get it. Maybe even the "A League." But the "B League", a 33 point lead late in the 4th? I just don't see that.

You're not the only parent to have this issue. I have seen it myself. It is one thing to yell at these kids but it's another to yell in their face and belittle them. My son has played for 4 years and has never been treated that way. I am thankful he has always had a good coach.
On the subject of our youth football program,which is a great program.But, we have had a rough year. It just amazes me that since Coach Schrieber has resigned from being Greensburg high school coach(He was also president of our youth league) the greensburg high school program has pretty much washed their hands of our youth. The tournament is going to start next weekend and greensburg was scheduled to host the first weekend. But greensburg high school athletic director doesn't want our boys on the high school field. He thinks they will mess it up. I don't understand how a bunch of elementary school kids are going to mess up a high school football field. These boys are our future high school players. Shouldn't we be trying to encourage them instead of making them feel they aren't good enough?

belle,

Interesting about your AD's concern for the field. Last season we did play the first round of the playoffs at the Greensburg High field. However, Greensburg last home game had occurred and the grounds crew had decided to top dress the field the night before to get it conditioned for winter. Therefore, a huge mound of dirt had sat on the field through the night and when the folks running the playoffs arrived, they immediately had to contact someone to have the field prepared for the youth football league games. So they spread the dirt. (By the way, it was raining at the time) So they spread the mud all around the filed in order to try to get the games started on time. So the playoffs occurred on a filed of nothing but mud. This was the story I got from one of the Greensburg coaches. So I sure hope the AD doesn't think the youth football games destroyed that field last year. It was destroyed when we got there.

Back to the coaches. I do believe there are good and bad in every area. I know of good and bad coaches in Rushville. And I can even accept a coach being hard on kids in order to motivate them. But if a kid misses a play when your team has a 33 point lead late in the 4th, it sure seems like you might just log that incedent to fix it in the next practice. Then let the kids enjoy the fact that they're winning the game.

I feel bad for that kid and his family. I feel bad for the family of that coach.

To the Rushville parent who wrote this comment. I was at this game and heard the same thing and the parent of the kid had no issue with it. Having a kid myself in football I would have been extremely mad if that kid didn't block and it was my kid and he got hurt. It doesn't matter what the score is or how much time is left in a game the coaches of the Greensburg team have done a good job all year to teach the kids that they can't take one play off or they might get a teammate hurt.So I agree with the coach and you should mind your own business. Maybe you should concentrate on your own coach's and team.

SHEEHEE,

I was minding my own business when that was disrupted by an extremely loud shouting session in the face of a 7-9 year old kid came from the far side of the field. I understand being uspet if a kid misses an assignment on a play. I don't remember the ball carrier getting hurt on the play. And if my memory is correct, the hypothetical has no place in this discussion.

I also think it's taking away from the kid who missed the block as well as the kid who made the tackle to say that the Greensburg player may have taken the play off. The tackle was made by our best defensive lineman. Do you think it's possible that maybe the Greensburg O-lineman was still trying and our guy just made a great play?

If that kid's parent is o.k. with it, that that's really all that needs to be said. I'm glad the coaches on my son's team handle things differently than the Greensburg Black coach did on this one play.

Look, I thought I would bring this up in here in order to gauge the reaction from Greensburg folks. So far I guess we can say it's 1 for and 1 against.

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its never going to change. . .these coaches think they are in the NFL and in most cases the only knowledge they have is what they see on tv.

and as it has been in my experiences, they dont know how to talk to adults, let alone children.

but come on now, some yelling never hurt anyone, i remember the parents of a young boy when i was in school. if a teacher, coach, or other student even somewhat raised their voice at him they had the principle, teachers, students, parents, EVERYONE in a meeting to protect their "little boy." and guess what, he is an adult and is still a push over. its called live and learn. (a trait lost)

wow, the point is nobody got hurt so there was little need to belittle a child publically. Likely the issue could have been addressed during the next practice. I am sure it is easy to get excited and in the heat of the game get a bit boisterous. I was not there and did not see what happened. However, Sheehee, honestly, did your post have to be so hateful? Mr Whoever worked his comments very carefully as to not offend anyone...too bad you didn't take the same care in your post!

Not all coaches are bad, but I have seen first hand how out of control some of the youth coaches are. The screaming and cussing at these children is uncalled for. I think the difference is a teaching coach and a coach that just wants to win. My son's coaches has been wonderful and supportive. They do let the team know when the need to work or practice, but they are very supportive when they have done well. Youth Football is a learning experience. These are just children and belittling and screaming are not effective tools.

Wow!! The best part of this whole conversation is how one parent concentrated on one bad thing and didn't get to hear the other positive things those coaches told those kids. And I guess it takes some kid to get hurt to make it ok to get excited to express loudly to a kid. And from what I heard at a game at Rushville team was involved in that one of their kids got his tooth knocked out and the coach cussed at him and said he didn't care. But you sure didn't see that on any blogs anywhere.

SHEEHEE,

I did hear the Greensburg coaches giving their kids positive reinforcement during that game. How could we not hear that when they dominated the entire game?

And yes I have seen a Rushville coach of a different Rushville team act inappropriately on more than one occassion.

But let me clarify my original question for you. In fact, I'll make it a multiple choice.

With a 33 point lead late in the fourth quarter of a game in which your team has dominated from start to finish, one of the players misses a block causing the ball carrier to be tackled before he can successfully score a point after attempt. Would prefer for the coach to...

A.) Loudly berate the player right in his face immediately after the play, right on the field where his family and friends can see it.

B.) Calmly let the player know that they missed the block that blew the play up and let them know that play like that will not work against a better team. Thereby immediately letting the player know they made a mistake, yet not causing any embarrassment in front of their family.

C.) Log the player who missed the block into your memory, then let it go for time being and continue to let the kids enjoy winning the game. Then,at the start of the next practice, berate and instruct the player as loudly as he wants to make the point that you can't make mistakes like that to beat the better teams in the league.

I would choose "C." I would accept "B."

If you would choose "A," that's fine. I'm not going to start a war with you over it.

This kind of behavior happens with ALL the youth sports in ALL areas. I wonder if the coaches could have some sort of session prior to the season starting regarding behavior that is appropriate on and off the field to help the coaches focus on the REAL goal of these programs. Which would be in my opinion: teaching the sport, sportsmanship, and what it means to be a part of a TEAM.
This has been a problems for MANY communities for a long time. Maybe it is time the parents, sports directors and coaches get pro-active and make a concious effort to prevent this problem in OUR leagues. I know that there are coaches in a certain Waldron Little League that are TOTALLY coaching for the kids. I have NEVER witnessed such nurtring coaches. They not only encourage the children on thier own teams but children on the other teams who make a good play or who get a good hit...they are outstanding. And as I understand the competetion aspect is very important also, what is more important? Our children reaping the benefits of learning the sport and building high self esteem or making a play better to the point that he is humiliated? His parents may have not have minded that thier child had been yelled at for the play, but what do you think the child FELT as a result?

I am a parent of 2 boys on the GB Black B Team. The coaches have been volunteering to coach football to this group of kids since the first week of August, about 2 1/2 months. I have watched a lot of practices and have seen coaches push the kids to be the best they can be, learn the game, and have fun. They have been teaching the fundamentals and for the most part trying to build them together as a team. These coaches have been criticized and put down by other teams all year, yet our team supports them. Raising their voices is part of coaching and I see nothing wrong with what happened. The word “berated” was strong a description, “criticized” would be more appropriate. By the way, kudos to the Rushville kid who made the tackle regardless.
On the Black Team the coaches have been really pushing for the kids to play consistently, to play hard on every play, regardless. In other words, don’t take plays “off” just because we have the lead. It is not very sportsmanlike to miss your block and let a defender slam headlong into your teammate running the ball or the quarterback as he’s handing it off.
I was at the game and witnessed the play that drew the initial comments. To be quite honest, I was surprised that we didn’t knee on the ball as we have in previous games. The coaches were letting some of the younger players have a “highlight play” to build their confidence and build team momentum going into the playoffs. There were no touchdowns scored by the normal runners and a couple of them never even got the ball. The coaches specifically talked to these players about it and the sportsmanship they were showing.
As a spectator, one thing that I did witness in this game were Rushville white players hitting after the whistle. There were 2 GB players that dealt with this the second half of the game. Both handled it fairly well, but I have to wonder if anyone from Rushville noticed it at all? During the Rushville Red game the coach was screaming at the players to “hit’em in the chin”. This “coaching” stopped after a couple of plays, if not by the coach listening to himself, by red parents not wanting their kids taught this way.
I guess the writer from Rushville is just trying to make a statement about kid sports, but should probably make it about issues closer to home. I am glad that he later had the respect to say that he can “accept a coach being hard on kids in order to motivate them” I am also glad he didn’t think it was done to in any way harm the well-being of the child (“criticized, rather than berated”).
My suggestion is to volunteer to assistant coach next year. Make a difference in those around you rather than “being an armchair Monday morning quarterback” at the opposing team.
I ignored any comments from those not there.
I also thought it was great that Rushville score twice during “mercy rule” from the 20 yard line. GB sat down the starters and even ignored the “celebration” in the endzone that our kids are not allowed to do figuring that they could walk away with some pride.
Having 2 boys this age, I want them to get the fundamentals, the sportsmanship, the work ethic, and develop a “love of the game”. I think the Greensburg Black coaches have tried to balance this in practices, games, and with school. Just as I like the reinforcement of the coaches to not take a play off, we carry it over to not take a test, quiz, or assignment off. What other team gives the biggest high five on the last regular practice of the season to the kids who improved the most from progress report to report card?
Thanks Greensburg Black B coaches.

Mr. Whatever: As a parent of one of the players on the Greensburg Black B team, I can tell you that for each time our coaches yell at a player for not doing their job on the field, they are praised at least three times. I've also seen/heard coaches of other teams yell at their kids. In football, if my kid takes a play off and is not mentally and physically in the game, and he gets tackled by a kid who is mentally and physically in the game, my kid will get hurt. That is why these coaches are so adamant about every kid doing their job and doing it correctly everytime. So no one will get hurt!!! I find it interesting that the only parents complaining about the coaching techniques of the Black B team are parents of players who do not play on the Black B team. The Black B coaches must be doing something right. These boys respect them, play hard for them and WIN for them. My son has learned a lot this season about team responsibility and team spirit from this great group of coaches. I wouldn't want him coached by anyone else!!

OK!! I have thought about this for days! I have tried to look at all sides of this. I do not have a child on the "Greensburg Black" team but I do have one on the "Greensburg Blue" team. I have set through many practice nights and had to endure the shouting of the coaches on the "Black team" (as we practise side by side). I stood one night and listened to 3 boys (yes, again we are talking about 7,8 and 9 year olds) cry and sob as the coach continued to run a very physical drill. I know some are saying "what about the child who cries to get out of the drill?" This was not that type of situation. I agree learning to play and function as a team is good. But the reason for this drill was because they (the children) had not worked together as a team during a game the day before. Oh, but yes they had WON!!! I know several of you say, you are parents and agree with this style of coaching. However, the parents of these three boys were not there. Please someone stand up and say this isn't right. One of these times the wrong child will be pushed and pushed - You know the one who medically can not with stand this type of "coaching." It would be awful to see Greensburg on the news in another negative manner. Should a child collaps on the field because they are afraid if they stop the may be "Criticized" in front of their team mates or worse have to do this drill longer. Since one team mate slowed down (the coached pointed out) and they had to do it longer. Thank you Mr. Whoever you have said what many have wanted to say!!!

I am the mother of two boys on Greensburg B-Black football team, one of which seems to have been featured in "Mr.Whoever's" and "Sportsmomof3's" blogs.First of all I would like to thank you for your concern.Let me make this very clear I am at EVERY practice and game as well as his father.
Addressing "MrWhoever": I saw the situation you are referring to. I saw it and also reveiwed a copy of this game. This coach did not verbally bash my son, nor did he embarrass him in anyway. He acted under clear intructions from his father and myself. My son is the type of child who does better when he does something wrong if he is made aware immediatly. It helps him to comprehend and know how to change it. If it was loud, well they were on a football feild 20 yards apart. Every child is different and has different needs. This is what works for my son. As far as felling sorry for him or our family there is no need. Then there is your comment about feeling sorry for that coaches family, I would like to say this man is a wonderful husband, father and role model for any child!
So with that I go on to "sportsmomof3". I was at the practice you are referencing as well as everyother one.Yes my son was crying , but it was not because it was to hard. I would like to invite you to come and see his reaction to cleaning his room or doing his homework. It would be quite the same. He is 7 and for the mean time that is how his expresses doing something he does not want to do. Yes the boys had won the previous game and no they did not work as a team. Teamwork to me is one of the key factors in football as well as life, and if they do not learn that now then when will they?
To sum this up I am very proud of my children and also with the way their coaches have helped them this year. Everyone is entitled to there own opinion and type of parenting. You may think mine is too strict and I may believe yours is too laxed. Either way it is our own . I do not expect my childern to win at everything. I do expext them to give it their all no matter what it is. I pray they take that through life with them.
So THANK YOU Greensburg B-Black coaches for everything you have taught my boys! Carol Youngman

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